In this episode, therapist and author Bianca Hughes joins the host to discuss her experience with a personal diagnosis. Bianca shares her story of being told she may have herpes over 20 years ago and the subsequent shame, stigma, and fear she faced. Despite not receiving an official diagnosis, she grappled with the implications it could have on her relationships. Tune in to hear Bianca's journey and how she navigated through this challenging experience.Guest Spotlight:Bianca Kesha Hughes is setting boundaries and breaking barriers. Known for authenticity and heart-work services, Bianca is the ultimate trailblazer in the mental health and wellness field as a therapist and speaker inspiring her audience to let go of the illusion of perfectionism. Bianca helps women overwhelmed with perfectionism connect to their inner selves through self-awareness and vulnerability to essentially embrace their imperfections and authentically be themselves.Connect with Bianca:Follow her on InstagramVisit her websiteResources:Take the Perfectionism Quiz here!Herpes Simplex Virus CDC Factsheet See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Life is very short and we have to do what must be done in the now.- Audre LordeToday's episode features a rich conversation that started out as one focused on cannabis as self-care but evolved into an even greater conversation on our community at large. Guest Feature: DeJanae is the founder of Green Goddess Glow—a platform where cannabis, fungi, and other plant medicines are reimagined as wellness tools for sustainable self-care—as well as For Ever Garden, a community garden in South Los Angeles. Her commitment to cultivating a deeper understanding of cannabis and our relationship with it has been a catalyst for transformation and creating space to amplify the voices and experiences of women of color. In our discussion we spoke about:The importance of evidence-based information on CannabisDeJanae's journey to the incorporation of cannabis in her selfcare ritualsVarious self-care products that use the hemp plant and some of their benefitsWhere to start when deciding to incorporate cannabis in your self-care routineThe role of cannabis as a teacherOn My Radar:Odacite All-Embracing Watermelon and Hibiscus Serum: Formulated to embrace all complexions, this light, penetrating formula imparts a feeling of newfound suppleness and long-lasting hydration to the skin.Odacite Sun Guardian Day Creme with SPF 30- light-weight day crème that works as a sunscreen SPF30 UVA + UVB. It melts into skin with a matte finish and slight blurring effect to reduce the visibility of pores and unify the complexion.**Use code: Bewellsis for savings**Ami Cole: Clean beauty for WOC. Inspired by Senegal. Born in Harlem. Where to Find DeJanae: Shop her apparel collection here ; Follow her on IG here.DeJanae's Book Recommendations:Of Water and the Spirit by Malidoma Patrice SomeThe Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday and Stephen HanselmanBraiding Sweet Grass by Robin Wall Kimmer___________________________Be Well, Sis Partners: Join the tribe on IG! Support us on Patreon!Sign up for our newsletter. Be Well, Sis.*Some of the links above are our affiliate partners. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Owning our story and loving ourselves through that process is the bravest thing that we’ll ever do. - Brene BrownGuest Feature:Meghan Watson is a psychotherapist, writer, consultant, and content creator who is focused on helping you get connected to your best self. She specializes in helping people understand their emotions, and develop the necessary insights to grow into exactly who they want to be. She focuses primarily on emotion management, life transitions, relationship, and food/body image issues all through an anti-oppressive, radical self compassion and body liberation lens. Discussion Highlights:How to cultivate self-love through self-compassionHow self-forgiveness is a key component of self-loveHow to forgive ourselves for our pasts and release ourselves from self- judgment Perfectionism and how that affects our self-love journeySocioemotional learning Meghan’s Book Recommendation*: From Margin to Center by bell hooksWhere to find Meghan: Website and Instagram _____Join the tribe on IG! Sign up for our newsletter!  Be Well, Sis.*Affiliate link: By purchasing this book (or any other book on our bookshop storefront, the podcast earns a small commission that helps support the production of this podcast. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

I’m in my mid-thirties. At this point in life, I’m quite familiar with the ebbs and flows of friendships. Over the years, we’ve outgrown childhood friends and made new ones throughout high school and college. But one of the skills we seem to lose a grasp on in adulthood is how to make new friends and navigate friendship breakups.Enter Danielle Bayard Jackson. Danielle is a friendship expert on a mission to help women create and maintain better friendships. Today, we’re diving into an open and candid conversation about how we can make new friends as adults.We discuss the balancing act of prioritizing friendships while juggling the responsibilities of adult life. Danielle gives us a new perspective of viewing friendships through the lens of wellness, and why not having anyone to vibe with can have the same harmful effects as other unhealthy habitsAs a self-proclaimed introvert, I couldn’t wrap up this episode without picking Danielle’s brain on how I can take on the scary task of starting new friendships and finding new friends outside of my already existing circles. Danielle is here to help you navigate adult friendship breakups, transitions, and expanding your friendship circle. Because at the end of the day, we all get by with a little help from our friends.About Danielle Bayard Jackson:Danielle Bayard Jackson is a friendship expert on a mission to help women create and maintain better friendships. As a former high school teacher and certified women's coach, (as well as a podcast host, author, and speaker) Danielle uses her knowledge and training to help women better understand the impact and importance of strong platonic relationships between women through her unique platform, FriendForward. Recently featured in the NBC News article “I hired a friendship coach to make friends. Here’s what happened”, Danielle is sought after by various media outlets to shine a light on the complexities of female friendship and to provide actionable strategies for overcoming some of the most common hurdles to sustaining meaningful friendships.Episode Resources:Self-love Journal:  (use code BEWELLSIS20 for 20% off)Friend Forward WebsiteFriend Forward PodcastFriend Forward Instagram Deborah Tannen BooksShasta Nelson BooksJoin the tribe on Instagram! Be well, Sis. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Many know Necole as the successful former celebrity blogger of Necole Bitchie and media mogul of xoNecole- however, similar to most women, she spent years overworking, skipping meals, and forgetting to prioritize self-care while hustling her way to success in an unhealthy way. And her periods were debilitating! After learning about hormonal imbalances and their very real impacts on our reproductive health, she launched My Happy Flo. In this episode, Necole gave a mini-masterclass on hormonal health. I literally had to take notes! We discussed: Tips for a less painful periodHow My Happy Flo helps The role that nutrition plays in hormonal healthThe link between gut health and hormonal healthWhy Necole decided to launch My Happy FloResources mentioned in this episode:Spain to reportedly offer three days of menstrual leave every monthWhat is I-3-C? (Indole 3- Carbinole)What is DIM (Diindolylmethane)?How Birth Control Pills Affect Your Nutritional NeedsPost-Birth Control Syndrome Blood Tests without Insurance- Jason HealthNecole's Book recommendation: The Fifth Vital Sign: Master Your Cycles and Optimize Your Fertility by Lisa Hendrickson-JackWhere to find Necole online:Visit My Happy Flo!Follow My Happy Flo on Instagram!Follow her on Instagram (she also shares a TON of gems here!) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Some exciting changes are happening at Be Well Sis, but in the meantime, enjoy some of our favourite episodes!Guest Feature:Dr. Joy Harden Bradford is the founder/creator of Therapy for Black Girls podcast and community. Her work focuses on making mental health topics more relevant and accessible for Black women, and she delights in using pop culture to illustrate psychological concepts. Named by Glamour as a Game Changer for her work in the mental health field, she received her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Xavier University of Louisiana, her master’s degree in vocational rehabilitation counseling from Arkansas State, and her PhD in counseling psychology from the University of Georgia. Her work has been featured in Essence, Oprah Daily, The New York Times, HuffPost, Black Enterprise, and Women’s HealthEasy Ways to Support Be Well Sis:Join us on Instagram!Leave us a 5🌟 rating + review Share an episode with a friend or 2 😉 Subscribe to our free newsletterLeave us a voice note 🙂Become a Patron on Patreon!Timeline is offering something special for our listeners. Go to timeline.com/bewellsis to get 10% off your first order of Mitopure today!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today we’re taking a trip down memory lane as we discuss our first periods and how we can challenge the norms regarding those conversations with the younger generation.  Guest Spotlight:  Co-founder Dana Roberts worked as an educator for over 20 years. One year while teaching 5th grade, half of the girls started their period in her class! Unfortunately, most of them were scared and unprepared. So, she decided to stitch together cute handbags to create a “first purse” for these tweens. Each bag contained everything they needed when starting their period.  Dana realized there was a gap in the market for tween period products and education, and she wanted to create a solution that would help all girls, including her own daughters. She began talking with her close friend Dr. Monica Williams, then a new mom, about partnering on launching a brand to empower, educate, and support tweens (and their caregivers!) on their transition into puberty. Together, they launched RedDrop, with a mission to normalize periods and period preparation for tweens and their families.  Shop Red Drop! -Visit the website, Girl Scouts, or on Amazon.    -MORE: Watch the podcast on YouTube! Connect: www.bewellsis.com Follows us on Instagram! Be Well, Sis Partners: Athletic Greens (AG1)– Redeem your offer for 1 year of high-quality Vitamin D + 5 free travel packs   Qualia Life: Resist cellular aging at the cellular level with Qualia Senolytic. Visit qualialife.com/BEWELLSIS  for savings!  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We’re on YouTube- Subscribe to the Be Well, Sis Channel today! Guest Spotlight: Prentis is a writer, embodiment facilitator, political organizer, and therapist. They are the Founder and Director of The Embodiment Institute, and the host of the new podcast, Becoming the People. For the last ten years, Prentis has practiced and taught somatics in social movement organizations and offered embodied practice during moments of social unrest and organizational upheaval. They have taught embodied leadership with Black Organizing for Leadership and Dignity and generative somatics and served as the Healing Justice Director of Black Lives Matter Global Network.   How to Connect with Prentis: Visit their website Follow on Instagram   -MORE: Connect: www.bewellsis.com Follows us on Instagram! Be Well, Sis Partners: Athletic Greens (AG1)– Redeem your offer for 1 year of high-quality Vitamin D + 5 free travel packs   Neurohacker: Resist cellular aging at the cellular level with Qualia Senolytic. Visit neurohacker.com/BEWELLSIS  for savings!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We’re on YouTube- Subscribe to the Be Well, Sis Channel today! May is Mental Health Awareness Month; this episode dives into the interconnectedness of our mental and physical well-being.  Articles Mentioned: Largest study of its kind to investigate why Black women are more likely to die from most types of cancer What is the Mind-Body Connection? The mind-body connection: not just a theory anymore Therapy Resources: Psychology Today : Enter your zipcode to find therapists and browse their profiles.  ​The Loveland Foundation - the Loveland Therapy Fund provides financial assistance to Black women and girls seeking therapy nationally. ​Therapy for Black Men -In partnership with licensed mental health professionals and coaches in private practice throughout the fifty states, TherapyForBlackMen.org provides proactive, multiculturally competent care to men of color. ​Black Emotional and Mental Health Collective (BEAM): BEAM is a national training, movement-building, and grant-making institution that is dedicated to the healing, wellness, and liberation of Black and marginalized communities. -MORE: Connect: www.bewellsis.com Follows us on Instagram! Be Well, Sis Partners: Athletic Greens (AG1)– Redeem your offer for 1 year of high-quality Vitamin D + 5 free travel packs   Winona: Use code BEWELLSIS at checkout to save 25% off your first order.  Neurohacker: Resist celluarl aging at the cellular level with Qualia Senolytic. Visit neurohacker.com/BEWELLSIS  for savings! 310 Nutrition: Get 50% off up to $100 for your first order by using code BEWELLSIS Ya-Man: Experience the future of beauty and visit Ya-manusa.com. Use code BEWELLSIS for 20% off!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Did you know we're on YOUTUBE?! Subscribe to the Be Well, Sis channel!   Guest Spotlight: Alicia Coulter, MPH, MSW is the is a highly sought after advocate and public speaker focusing her work in protecting the lives of Black women. She is also the CEO & Co-Founder of AHN Foundation, a nonprofit that is committed to providing Safe Spaces for Black Women™ and health including equity and inclusive services to the Black community. Her desire to develop Safe Spaces for Black Women™ was birthed from her habitually experiencing unsafe spaces in corporate America because of her being a Black woman. The spaces she creates afford Black women a space that is for Black women by a Black woman, luxurious, filled with positivity, joy, and sisterhood. Purchase Safe Spaces for Black Women here! Connect with Alicia: Follow her on LinkedIn  Follow her on Instagram -MORE: Connect: www.bewellsis.com Follows us on Instagram! Be Well, Sis Partners: Athletic Greens (AG1)– Redeem your offer for 1 year of high-quality Vitamin D + 5 free travel packs   Winona: Use code BEWELLSIS at checkout to save 25% off your first order.  Neurohacker: Resist celluarl aging at the cellular level with Qualia Senolytic. Visit neurohacker.com/BEWELLSIS  for savings! 310 Nutrition: Get 50% off up to $100 for your first order by using code BEWELLSIS Ya-Man: Experience the future of beauty and visit Ya-manusa.com. Use code BEWELLSIS for 20% off!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.